Improvement in whiffletrees



vJ. H. LITTLEFIELD.

- i Patented vJune 27,118615.,l

Ulla Il N. PETERS, PHOTO UTHoGRAPH `UNITED STATES PATENT CF1-uen.

JOSEPH H. LITTLEFIELD, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHIFFLETREES.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,416, dated June 27, 1865.

y relieving of the horse from the carriagein case of accident or other necessity arisiugsuddenly;

` and 1 do hereby1 declare that the following is a full and exact description ot' the same, ret"- erence being had to the drawings that accompany and form a part of these specifications, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the under sideof the whifletree with the various attachments thereto; Fig. 2, a top View of the Whiftletree as it appears on the carriage; Fig. 3, a sectional viewv divided longitudinally through the center; Fig. 4, sectional view divided crosswise in aline with the-harness-tug; Fig. 5, a scctional view divided across the shaft ofthe whiftletree; Fig. 6,'one ot the pulleys on the under side ot' the whifletree. Fig. 7 represents a piece of the harness tug or trace.

The same letters represent corresponding parts in the different iigures.

Letter A represents the shaft of the whiflietree; B, the body of the ierrule cla-sping the end of the whiflietree C, the hook to which the tug is attached; D, a spring to keep the hook C in place when in use; E, a-chain connecting the rotating hook C with the cord F; F, acord reaching to the carriage or within reach ofthe driver; g, a flange sufficient to contain a slot for the chain E; It, an extension from'the ferrule B, and forming aguard against the tugs coming olf when in ordinary use; t', a pin inserted in the spindlej and in a slot in the socket It, and acting to keep the spindle j from coming out; j, a spindlegjoining by its collar to the hook C; k, a socket for the spindle j, and is of the same piece with the ferrule A; l, a short lever on the hook C, to which the chain E is attached; m, a lcurved slot in the ange g, in which the end of the lever l and the chain E move back and forth; n n, pulleys on the under side of the whifdetree for the cord F to pass over, as may be seen in Fig. l; o o, tugs or traces to the harness; 1o, a pin formed on the end ot' the spindle j, on which the spring D coils.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe its construction and mode of operation.

The ferrule A, the dan ge g, the guard h, and the socket kare of malleable iron, and allin one piece, as may be seen by examining the drawings.

The hook C, with its spindle j and pin p, around which thespring D coils, are all in one piece and of malleable iron or its equivalent.

The chain Eis made ot' short links, so that it may run easily in the slot m, or a hard smooth cord may be used instead of the chain.

The coil-spring D, of Wire, is seen in Fig. 2, also in Fig. 5, one end of Which is fastened to the socket 7c and the other to the spindle j.

The cord F should be hard round cord, and

running as seen in Fig. l, or a strap of leather may be substituted therefor.

As to the mode of operation, I will suppose all the parts complete and arranged as in Fig. l, and the Whiftletree in position, as seen in Fig. 2. The cord or strap F is taken hold of by the hand and drawn, when the chain slips in slot m, carries around the end of the lever l, and overcomes the force ot the spring D, thus turning the spindle j in its socket k, causing the hook C to turn half over and assume the position seen in Fig. l, when the tugiinmediately slips oft'.

In putting on the tug the hook C is raised by the hand slightly, just to let it slip` on.

This invention, used in connection with `my recently -invented selfreleasing breeohing hook, will be ofgreat value to the public, often saving a valuable life and sometimes lives.

Now, I do not claim the principle of seltreleasing whifdetrees, broadly; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- The combination of the ferrule B, having its guard ll. and socket 7c, the hook C, having its lever Z, spindlej, and pinp, the spring D, and the cord and chain F and E, or their equivalent, all arranged substantially as' described and for the purposes set forth.

JOSEPH H. LITTLEFIELD.

Witnesses:

DANIEL C. GOLBY, JABEZ A. SAWYER, 

